The American Civil Liberties Union today joined with a broad coalition to urge Congress to make much-needed changes to the laws that protect the privacy of electronic information. Congress passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) in 1986 - before the Web was invented - and it has not been properly updated to reflect the vast changes in technology since then. The coalition, named Digital Due Process, joins together the ACLU, AT&T, Google, Microsoft, the Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation and other privacy groups.

To simplify, clarify, and unify the ECPA standards, providing stronger privacy protections for communications and associated data in response to changes in technology and new services and usage patterns, while preserving the legal tools necessary for government agencies to enforce the laws, respond to emergency circumstances and protect the public.